Jack gave firetruck deal before approvalCABINET SAID NO TWICE
Published: Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
Cabinet twice refused to sign off on the whopping $10 million quotation originally submitted for removing the firetruck involved in an accident last November. That original reluctance appears to have been justified, as other wrecking companies yesterday estimated the cost for such a job at $50,000 at most. T&T Guardian learned the recommendation was submitted to the Ministry of National Security on November 22 by former chief fire officer Carl Williams on the basis of a technical assessment.
The water tender from the Arima Fire Station was responding to a report in Blanchisseuse when it ran off the road, plunging over a 300-foot cliff, a T&T Guardian exclusive reported yesterday. On the basis of Williams’s recommendation, the line minister at the time, Jack Warner, took a note to Cabinet for approval. However, some ministers objected to the cost and approval was withheld at two Cabinet meetings.
Ministry officials yesterday told T&T Guardian that Cabinet eventually approved a revised price of $6.8 million for retrieving the truck. The approval, however, was granted in December—some weeks after the job had already been done. Documents obtained by the T&T Guardian yesterday showed the Rosenbauer water tender was bought in 2006 for $2,236,275.35. Contacted yesterday, Williams said: “I am on pre-retirement leave. Please call me back at 4 pm.”
However, later phone calls went directly to his voice mail. A senior government minister said yesterday: “The former minister submitted a note for cover approval. “In the first two instances, approval was not granted because concerns were raised about the price. But because the work was completed, approval was eventually granted. Concerns were raised.”
Permanent Secretary in the National Security Ministry Jennifer Boucaud-Blake, who is in the United Kingdom at present, has distanced herself from any involvement, saying she is not authorised to approve spending over $1 million. Acting Chief Fire Officer Nayar Rampersad, contacted yesterday, said a report was expected to be submitted to current line minister Emmanuel George next week, to determine if it was cost-effective to repair the water tender.
The truck is currently parked at the Chaguanas Fire Station as investigations continue.
Other estimates: $25-$50,000Owners of other wrecking companies were yesterday shocked at the bill for retrieving the firetruck. The head of the company that retrieved the truck, Ramdath Ramsubir, of Sammy’s Multilift Services Ltd, is insisting that the cost is “justified.” Sammy’s Multilift Services is a subsidiary of Junior Sammy Contractors.
The T&T Guardian was referred to two companies that specialise in removing heavy equipment: Chiney Wrecking Services, owned by Larry Mohan, and Fyzam Garage 24hr Wrecking Service. Both are south-based and have been in business for over 20 years. Yesterday, the owners said they were at a loss as to what would have contributed to such a hefty price.
Mohan scoffed at the $6 million price tag, saying: “It could have cost nowhere near that. “We have been in the wrecking business over 25 years, and did several jobs like that in Maracas,” he said. “That job will cost no more than $50,000, and that is the maximum. “We have equipment to move heavy vehicles like that and I am sure we could have pulled it out. “In no part of the world could it ever happen...The vehicle is not even valued at that price.
“For a crane to pick it up means that it was not in such a bad area. If it was in a dangerous place, a crane could not even reach there. Two wreckers could have pulled out the water tender.” Fyzam Ali said based on his calculations, he would have charged a mere $25,000 for the job. Ali, the owner of Fyzam Garage, said after he read the report in yesterday’s T&T Guardian, he tried to calculate an estimated cost and was unable to arrive at the figure of $6.5 million.
“The most I will say is $25,000,” Ali said. Told that the water tender had plunged down 300 feet over a precipice and three cranes were used to retrieve it, Ali replied: “It was to make the work look big. “They could have bought a new water tender and leave that one there,” he said. “I am shocked. That is too much money. I have been in the business for 30 years and no job has ever cost $6 million—not even close. "I think somebody is mad.”
Breakdown of the $10 million bill:In the recommendation he submitted to Warner, Williams gave a breakdown of the proposed $10 million bill. It listed:
Mobilisation and demobilisation fee
Excavators
Heavy-haul extended trailer-track truck
Lighting towers
Rigging equipment
Crane mats
Safety officers
Project managers
Riggers
Hygienic facilities
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-06- ... l-approval
